Only 62 of 3,001 eligible voters cast ballots in Framingham's preliminary election

Jesse Collings, The MetroWest Daily News
Updated ·2 min read

FRAMINGHAM — After a stunningly low 2.1% turnout, incumbent District 9 City Councilor Tracey Bryant and challenger Jose Ferreira emerged from Tuesday's preliminary election to qualify for the ballot in the city's Nov. 7 general election.

A second challenger, Albert Chimeno, was eliminated from contention.

Only 62 of the 3,001 registered voters cast ballots at Harmony Grove Elementary School on Tuesday. District 9 includes Precincts 1, 2 and 3 in the city's south side.

Bryant collected 40 votes, with Ferreira getting 16 and Chimeno 5. There was a single blank.

Bryant, who is seeking her third term on the City Council, told the Daily News after the results were released Tuesday night that she would analyze the low turnout figure, suggesting a need for further education in the district about the importance of voting.

Incumbent City Councilor Tracey Bryant was the top vote-getter in Tuesday's preliminary election for District 9 in Framingham, Sept. 19, 2023. Bryant, who is seeking her third two-year term on the council, will take on challenger Jose Ferreira in the Nov. 7 general election.
Incumbent City Councilor Tracey Bryant was the top vote-getter in Tuesday's preliminary election for District 9 in Framingham, Sept. 19, 2023. Bryant, who is seeking her third two-year term on the council, will take on challenger Jose Ferreira in the Nov. 7 general election.

District 9 contest: Framingham's preliminary election has just one City Council race

"I plan to reach the people, let them know what I'm about, get out and meet them and talk to them," she said. "I think we're going to have to build some education on how valuable participation is in the democratic process. We need to inspire the greater interest and meaning in people."

Bryant earned 13, 12 and 15 votes in Precincts 1, 2 and 3, respectively, and was the top vote-getter in all three.

Harmony Grove Elementary School on Leland Street was the sole voting station open for Tuesday's preliminary city election in Framingham, Sept. 19, 2023.
Harmony Grove Elementary School on Leland Street was the sole voting station open for Tuesday's preliminary city election in Framingham, Sept. 19, 2023.

Ferreira announced on social media last month that he was no longer seeking the office, but did not withdraw from the ballot before the deadline; thus his name remained on the ballot. On Monday, the night before the preliminary election, he took to Facebook again, saying he would not campaig ahead of the general election if he qualified for the ballot.

Bryant told the Daily News in an earlier interview that she is proud of her work involving environmental justice, as well as her work as a collaborator on different projects and policies undertaken by the council.

A total of 22 ballots (3.0% of registered voters) were cast in Precinct 1; with 17 (1.4%) in Precinct 2 and 23 (2.1%) in Precinct 3.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Framingham District 9 council race draws 62 of 3,001 eligible voters